Book: Kaleidoscope World by Tomica Scavina

Tomica Scavina

about this book: When life hands you a lemon, grate the zest and bake a cake. This is the motto of twenty-eight years old kaleidoscope collector Dahlia who moves from New York to Barcelona to collect lost bits of her childhood. Soon she discovers that the zest is too bitter and there are no other ingredients.

Dahlia's father was murdered when she was four and her mother is a severe alcoholic. She's broke and owes several thousands bucks to her ex therapist. Her only comfort is her favorite "me-you kaleidoscope." It is her imaginary home. Her exit from reality.

When Dahlia moves to the apartment where she had spent the first years of her life, odd things begin to happen. She starts seeing hovering objects that others don't see. She also meets a strange old Scotsman who tries to persuade her that reality is about to vanish and that she needs to help him plug up some kind of astral holes.

Her therapist calls it schizophrenia. Her New Age neighbor calls it spiritual awakening. Dahlia is shocked and she just wants it to stop. But, bit by bit, she discovers a repetitive pattern that helps her glue these shattered bits of reality. Her "me-you kaleidoscope" becomes a tunnel to the other dimension and the bittersweet love story with an elderly cello player gives her courage to step inside and face the long kept family secret.

Kaleidoscope World entered the quarterfinals for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award 2013